8,500 years ago, hemp was harvested and used to produce durable cloth. Around 3,000 years ago, people began using hemp as a food and medicinal source. At that time, hemp seeds were used to heal the central areas of the chi and revitalize blood flow, veins and arteries.(1)

Since hemp is a cousin of THC-rich marijuana, it has gotten a bad rap for many years. It's even banned in countries like Brazil. But unlike marijuana, hemp seeds don't contain psychoactive compounds. The trace amounts of THC found in hemp are not mind-altering.

In many ways, hemp is one of the most useful plants known to mankind. It is used to make over 25,000 different products, including paper and clothing. But does that mean hemp can be properly absorbed as food? Does it have more nutritional benefits than other foods?

Why Hemp Is Called a Super Food

Essential and non-essential amino acids are the building blocks of protein. However, essential amino acids cannot be produced by your body. You must get them from food or supplements. Hemp seeds contain all of these essential amino acids, the ones your body can't produce on its own.

Hemp has less overall protein than soy. But hemp protein is easier to digest and it's absorbed quickly. And it doesn’t cause bloating or gas.

Hemp seeds have a 3:1 ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 fatty acids, which is important in preventing heart disease and promoting heart health. Their Omega 6:3 ratio is second only to flax seeds.

Though not scientifically proven, hemp has been linked to helping people with varying issues including ADHD, eczema and atherosclerosis according to the University of Michigan Health System. In addition hemp seed oil can help alleviate dermatitis (an inflammation of the skin) according to a study conducted in Finland in 2005.(2)

Hemp seed oil is used in various cosmetics, such as skin creams, shampoos, shaving creams, lip balms etc. One reason is that hemp seed oil has properties that make it a natural sun block. These properties make it a great functional ingredient in natural skincare products. In addition since hemp is rich in vitamin D, which is necessary for calcium absorption, it helps skin stay hydrated and smooth.

There are so many ways to add hemp into your diet… hemp seeds can be eaten raw, ground into a meal, made into hemp milk, or prepared as a tea.

Side Effects

Allergies to hemp are rare. So are side effects, except sometimes loosening of the stool. If your digestive system is sensitive to change, start with small amounts of hemp seeds and slowly work your way up.

People who are extremely sensitive to THC may experience hallucinations or feelings of euphoria.(3) But as mentioned earlier, hemp seeds only have trace amounts of THC.

Please share your experiences and experiments with hemp and leave us a comment!

68 Comment(s)

There is no talk about the most dynamic use of hemp, since the unspeakable is accomplished! What is that secret that cannot be revealed due to Big Pharma not wanting this unpatented information leaking to the public? The secret is the hemp "oil" that can be prepared from a particular strain of cannibus. That oil, beyond a doubt, detonates cancer in a very short period of time. Anyone interested in finding out more can contact http://www.phoenixtears.com and find out the information. Hemp oil has saved many lives in spite of the criminal cabal successfully hiding and blocking its positive success from the people who need it the most. It is a green plant! We were promised to be given every herb, seed or plant relating to our ultimate best health! Thank you for the article speaking about the differences between hemp and marijuana..

I love hemp in all forms, food, clothing , paper I put hemp seeds in my tabbouleh which makes it gluten free. I love hemp seeds in my salads or yogurt and I use hemp protein powder in my smoothies. I also wear hemp clothing. I believe that if hemp hadn't been put into prohibition our planet would be a much better place
Hempy lady

I have been consuming hulled hemp seeds for years. I love the taste and the texture that it produces for my green smoothies. I am a pretty healthy 74 yr old and hope to remain that way. I will continue to consume my hemp seeds on a daily basis for a long, long time to come.

i like the slightly nutty taste. it was my understanding that hemp products are very beneficial for the heart. the ease of digestion likely helps. i sprinkle them on top of salads & add tahina or hemp oil based dressing.
delicious.

Do ingested Hemp seeds show up in the bloodstream as THC for a hair or urine drug test? I would love to consume more hemp, but my work does random drug testing with a zero tolerance policy and I would hate to lose my job because I had a yogurt with hemp and fruit on it! Do you know if it shows up in any of the drug screens? Thanks!

Hi Pamela,
Yes you are correct about how much vitamin D it contains and how much we need on a daily basis.
The only way to get adequate vitamin D is from the sun or supplementation. Hemp oil specifically is the only plant oil that is rich in vitamin D. Though it may not seem like a large enough amount because you are comparing it to the amount needed on a daily basis, it is a high number in comparison to other oils, so it is considered rich in vitamin D in comparison.

Andie,
Though it’s unlikely it has happened in the past.
This website should help you:http://www.testpledge.com/foods.htm
To assure that hemp eaters do to not test positive in a drug test for marijuana, some companies of hemp nut and oil products in North America have initiated the TestPledge program. These companies commit themselves to keeping THC levels in hemp nut and oil below levels at which failing a workplace drug test is extremely unlikely, even when eating high amounts of these products on a daily basis.

Johann,
That depends on your weight, build, age and digestion. Plus it matters if you’re taking it for a specific health concern or just for maintenance.
Generally people take about 1 tbsp or more per day usually in the morning. It’s better to start with small doses and see how your body reacts to it.

Hi! Nice article, thanks for that : ) I tried eating unhulled hemp seeds a few years ago but they were too gritty, so lately I've been buying very expensive hulled seeds – anyone got any advice on a palatable way to use unhulled hemp seeds? Or how to hull them myself lol? Many thanks, Elizabeth

Hi, Elizabeth
i face the very same problem since here i don't get to buy hulled hemp seed but an occasional (and pricey) german import. but i do get to buy unhulled hemp as cheap bird food and that's what i buy. i wash then blend them with some water and strain the material with a cheese cloth or nutmilk bag. yes, you are not getting the whole nutrition, yes, you are wasting a lot but still – you get hemp milk this way which is a treat and for a fraction of the price…

I smell like pot!!! After one week of eating hemp seeds in large quantities AND then going to a hot hot yoga class, the kind of yoga class where the temperature is set to 100+ degrees F, the dripping sweat smelled like marijauna. I was a little worried someone would think the obvious…. I'm going to try to repeat this and get back to you. This time I'll have some friends smell my sweat ha ha.

Trying to eat healthier add more veggies and fruits into my diet I bought the Nutri-Bullet Extractor
and tons of veggies and fruits recommended in the book that came along with it.
It suggest Hemp Seeds, Chia Seeds, Gogi berries things I never heard of but they're sold in the Health food store …so they must be healthy…so i thought
About 30 min after drinking the dinner shake, with spinach, grapefruit, fig, honey and hemp seeds…
I started to feeling a sinus migrane coming on, and i get those frequently, so i just feel asleep, hoping it would pass…
it didn't, i couldn't stay asleep, when i woke up i was sweaty, weak, vomiting, my heart was racing , breathing was heavy and i literally felt like i was going to die ..the symptoms lasted through out the evening. 500 till 12:30. After vomiting about 7-8 times I finally knocked out for the rest of the night… woke up with a slight headache, but fevers, chills, shaking, heart racing, and vomiting gone…it wasn't the sinus headache i thought.
i'm looking online and most people are saying they are healthy and beneficial but i would say if you're not used to having hemp seeds in your system, take very few…( i used a tablespoon- in an extractor) which may be why? idk…
but be careful, they do have side effects….they are not safe for everyone…

I'm a pensioner and have suffered from delayed stomach emptying (I think) for several years. This problem left me with a foul taste in my mouth from morning til night because my stomach was unable to process any kind of food because it was in a state of paralysis due to too much tension in my body. Not only this, because food was sitting in my stomach overlong and was putrefying, my body wasn't getting any nutrition from any of the food that I was eating.
A positive miracle occurred when I began sprinkling just a heaped dessert spoon of hemp seed (hulled) onto my porridge oats in the morning. The bad taste in my mouth literally disappeared within a minute or so! I have no idea in the world as to why this happened. Maybe my body was simply saying that it liked what I was giving it. ;o)
i am now a true believer in the wonderful benefits of hemp. If anyone might know why it had such a wonderful and immediate effect on my body then I'd really like to know.

On the hemp heart bag it says you can eat up to 8 tablespoons a day but to start with 5 tablespoons. I believe they have about 100 calories per tablespoon but it is a good fat. I personally mix 5 Tbs. into a green salad which keeps me full for 5 hours. I lalso mix it into a smoothie.

For the woman that got sick after eating them I think you may have come down with a stomach flu. I have never heard of anyone becoming ill from hemp hearts. It is one of natures finest foods. It is easy to blame the last thing you ate before getting ill but you may have been already ill when you ate them if it was a virus.

Tammy, you are not alone in what you have experienced! I, too, have had nearly immediate adverse digestive reaction to hemp protein powders I've used in the past, multiple times with various brands of the product. I will no longer use it because every time I put even a teaspoon into my smoothies, I get violently ill (vomiting and diarrhea) within 90 min. of ingesting. Once my body purges itself of the hemp, I return to normal (usually within 4-5 hours). Food poisoning usually lasts a lot longer than that with me. So, perhaps I have a rare allergy or it reacts badly with something else in my system? I'm just wondering if anyone knows of any research on such a reaction and what additional conditions might interact with the hemp to produce this nasty effect?

I have gotten sick from hemp protein powder in a similar way to the previous commenter.
I became severely ill and started vomiting at work recently and couldn't for the life of me figure out why. I then remembered I had a green smoothie with quite a few tablespoons of hemp powder that morning. I didn't really think that could have been the culprit as I really do believe in all of the benefits of hemp.
Today as a test, I made another fruit smoothie with hemp protein powder (only a tablespoon or two this time) thinking I would be fine but wanting to see how I felt afterwards. A couple of hours after consuming it, I began feeling extremely nauseous again and almost vomited. I have no allergies at all, eat a wide variety of cuisines and just generally have a very strong stomach.
Hemp is wonderful though we all can react to it differently. Disappointed it doesn't agree with my stomach! Everyone else – enjoy.

Hi. So one day I came home from swim practice, and my mom made me a smoothie. She had just bought hemp seeds(hemp hearts) that day so she put some in for me. That night I woke up extremely nauseous an I vomited. Now I have absolutely no gag reflex, and that was only the second time in my life that I threw up. I immediately noticed something different about it. It did not reek, like stomach flu vomit, and
immediately after it came out I felt better. I was totally fine the next morning too I thought it was just some nasty stomach bug. A few days later, my mom made me a milkshake again. And t was right before my birthday party. And the same thing happened. I started vomiting, and the second I was done I felt better, and perky That day I also had bad diharea. I have quite a few allergys, incding s severe penicilin allergy so my mom went onlune, and saw tgis blog and she read about this rare condition where your body doesnt tollerate hemp so be careful if youre just starting out take a small quantity at first just tiiight i should share my story

My teenage son tested positive today for a potentially life-threatening allergy to hemp hearts — the only food we know of that he's allergic to. We went to an allergist for testing after he ended up in the ER with an immediate, violent reaction to eating a smoothie containing berries, yogurt, hemp hearts, and kale leaves. Today's skin testing showed a clear reaction to the hemp hearts, and nothing else. So, just be aware: hemp allergies can and do happen.

I have had numerous major surgeries due to severe degenerative disc disease. I take prescription pain meds to be able to get out of bed daily. I have been doing holistic healthy aids for years but recently added hemp seeds to my diet. I failed the drug test for my pain pills and got cut off and dismissed from the only pain clinic in my area. I took them printed material on the benefits if hemp seeds which the doctor tossed in the trash without even looking.
Just a warning. I am now miserable, in pain and in a 'no tolerance' state that is making me wait 6 months before considering to treat me again. Beware!

I too had a reaction to Manitoba Pro 50 Hemp protein powder. On four occasions I have made a protein shake with banana and stevia and the ingredient hemp protein powder. I would make a shake in the am and on each occasion always 2.5 to 3 hours later I was vomiting while feeling better 1 hour later. I can eat bananas and stevia in other forms no problem. Only allergy I have is a lactose intolerance. Hard to understand it as many claim this product is so healthy…

Ok-also after severe vomiting on three different occasions with the only common ingredient being hemp protein – no more hemp for me. The first two times were smoothies-one I made and two months later – one I purchased – within 90 minutes the vomiting was so severe I had to get to the ER-and I don't go there so I was extremely ill. The last time I ordered something in a restaurant that had hemp products all over the kitchen so even though I did not ingest any – I still vomited within 90 minutes although NOTHING like when I ingested it. So it can make a person ill unfortunately.

I also had an adverse reaction to hemp protein powder. It was organic and 100% hemp. I mixed it as directed with almond milk. The first time I did not vomit, but had diarhea for a couple of hours. I thought I had a stomach bug. A week later I tried again. I started sweating profusely within 30-40 minutes. This was followed by diarhea and then violent vomitting that lasted until I was empty. I really wish it agreed with me as it is an excellent source of vegan protein.

I am so glad to have found this thread! I thought I was completely alone in my hemp seed intolerance! I found it so hard to believe that my body could respond in such a way to something as health giving and nutritious as hemp,but everytime I have ingested the seeds I've developed violent vomiting within a matter of hours. I used to sprinkle it on salads but everytime I did I'd end up violently ill. This has happened on around 10 different occasions, as I just could not believe it could be the hemp seeds, but after various tests and exclusions I know for a fact that the hemp seeds were the cause. I've fallen foul of health food bars and cereals with the seeds added too so I always have to check the labels now. I would suggest to anyone who wants to try hemp seeds to try the tiniest amounts at first to see if you can tolerate it- I would not wish the violent reactions I have had on anybody!

I have no issues with Hemp Seeds, but i tried the Hemp Oil twice and had a weird reaction both times. Both products r Vitacost brand organic. The oil made me feel a bit nauseas and somewhat off, A Bit spacey, my vitals were fine but I did not feel the same and it came over me very quick and lasted a couple of hours.I assumed based on what I've read that some can have a reaction to this product that may have some trace THC. It is found mostly in the oil rather than the seed. I continue to use the seeds with no problems. The oil i can only use a few drops.

Tammy, you may have been suffering from detox. Were you eating particularly badly beforehand? My health-conscious boyfriend who has a terrible sweet tooth will often binge eat candy and chips etc. for a week or so, and then return to juicing and eating healthy, and he always gets detox headaches and doesn't feel well for the first few days. I'm positive it has to do with toxins leaving his body, especially since the only time he ever has foot odour is when he's eating badly.

I drank hemp milk for the first time yesterday, and as far as I know, I have never ingested hemp before. I got symptoms very similar to yours — I thought I was getting a migraine; I tried to work through it until my shift was over. I felt really overheated and nauseated, and after about an hour, I vomited it all up. I couldn't eat anything the rest of the evening, and I vomited again if I tried. I went to bed, and I woke up and was fine the next day. I don't doubt at all that you had a reaction to the seeds.

I had ingested hemp seeds for a few months before I had an adverse reaction. Usually only ate about a Tbs at a time. They tasted good and made me feel good. Then one day out of the blue they made me sick, within a few hours of eating, it came on quick and the only thing that came up was the hemp. Now it has been a few years and I tried some today, less than a teaspoon worth and within a few hours I was so sick again. The only thing I threw up was the hemp. Looking online its hard to find anyone else getting sick from this, glad I am not alone.

Well, I have been taking hemp daily for 7 months. No side effects. If you bought it and it gets you sick, add to your yogurt, honey, lemon facial. Or, try in a brownie, no joke intended. I love it. It makes me feel fuller, and I feel like I am doing something wonderful for my body. I have heard some people need to build up a tolerance, but my mom found she was no longer allergic to nuts & avocados after she started eating organic only. I eat organic only as well. Are you eating organic only? Because maybe the pesticides and GMOs interact with the hemp/

I too have had problems with hemp intolerance. I have been drinking hemp milk for about three months and have loved it. It tastes great and I was feeling better than I have in quite a while. I loved some of the commercial brands available at the local market, especially the chocolate. I was drinking about a quart a day. Two weeks ago I became violently I'll as described in other posts here. I chalked it up to food poisoning from breakfast as it came on so suddenly about 90 minutes after eating and drinking a glass of hemp milk. I was better the next day but didn't drink hemp until a few days later. I had the same horrible sickness with sudden onset about an hour and a half after drinking the milk. I still didn't want to think it could be the hemp but I couldn't think of any other explanation. I thought it might be a bad batch as both containers of milk were purchased at the same time. Today is two weeks later and I bought a quart of a different brand. 90 minutes later same symptoms. I have finally completely voided my body and feel back to normal except for weakness and a fuzzy head that is the aftermath of being that sick. Each of the three times have been the sickest I have ever been. I felt like I was going to die, and a few hours later after the complete emptying of my system I am fine. Now I am just sick knowing that I have built up some kind of intolerance. I loved everything about hemp milk from taste to how it made me feel so completely nurished. I was telling everyone and converted some others who are loving it and feeling positive benefits in numerous body systems, but I am afraid to try it again as I never want to be sick like that again. What a huge bummer! If anyone finds a solution so that I can take hemp again it will be a happy day.

After two bouts of uncontrollable, violent vomiting each about 3 weeks apart, I can tell you that I will never eat hemp seeds (Costco hemp hearts again). I had consumed an entire bag previously over a period of a couple of months in smoothies. No problem. A few months later, I bought a second bag and made myself my typicial berry smoothie for breakfast the next morning. Within 2 hours I had to leave work the vomiting was so bad. I actually had to pull over several times on the way home. At the time I thought it was possibly the flu, although it only lasted for one day. Having lost all desire for a smoothie, I didn't make another for about three weeks. Needless to say. The same exact reaction. I am familiar with food allergies, as I am unable to eat soy beans and green beans, but the hemp seed reaction was much more violent than I have experienced with either of these.

Hemp CAN cause gas and bloating contrary to what you stated in your article. I have never been able to digest milk or powder without gas, bloating, loosening of stools, and the general feeling of there being a knot in my abdomen. I have heard these effects may dissipate over long-term use but these are extremely uncomfortable symptoms to have. I could only keep with it for a week before the disruption was becoming to much and at no time experienced a lessening of these symptoms.

I don't think the condition is rare. Despite the zeal of hemp advocates who often claim hemp to be the most easily digestible form of vegan protein, there are many people who experience varying degrees of adverse reaction.

Had hemp milk a few mornings ago – had TERRIBLE embarrassing gas all day long (like the smelliest gas I’ve ever had – even worse than after I eat sauerkraut). I’ll stick with coconut or almond, thanks.

I must be one of those rare cases to have a reaction to hemp seeds. The first time i had them, my chest got very tight, hard to breath, i was sweating alot, and very weak. I thought maybe it had been something else in the day that i had eaten, not the seeds. So i had some more a few months ago, and AGAIN same reaction. It bugs me when i see all these claims that hmep seeds have no allergic reaction for people when I clearly had a very bad reaction. Anyone else ever had a bad reaction like this?

I had hemp seeds in the granola I was buying at the health food store. Was loving it. Had some for about a week and felt great. Last week I ate it again and got so sick, diahrea, shakes, fever, felt like a horrible, awful stomach flu…in fact I thought it was, then 4 days later I ate the hemp granola again. So sick and immediately after I ate it. I hadn’t had anything else to eat yet so I known it was the hemp. Good to see I’m not the only one. Horrible reaction to hemp. I will never ever try to eat it again!

I’ve started moderately taking 1tbspn daily. I never used to sweat. But, have been these last few days. Used it as a hair treatment and skin treatment. Only thing that has worked to calm itchy my scalp. And my skin feels more amazingly smooth. But, getting a little blotchy. I personally feel like im more calm and relaxed. And havent needed valium or sleeping tablets. Are these possible usual side affects?

My family has this allergy in the milk protein family can’t do cows milk we r very krohns like … Not lactose it is actually inability for small intestines to break down properly those protein chains .. The ill digested chain causes pain bloating diarreha etc

To the people who also became ill from the hemp (and to the people who try to claim it “couldn’t possibly be the hemp that made them ill”)I too become extremely ill every single time I eat hemp heart seeds as well.. It last for days and makes my stomach burn, hurt, I get extremely flatulent. So painful and embarrassing! At first I thought it had to have been something else but my diet is extremely strict as I have many allergies. (Gluten, corn, dairy..) and I only eat food prepared myself. I have been adding them to my daily smoothie and, as it turns out (unfortunately) it IS the hemp the blame. So strange.

Hi everyone! I just started using hemp protein as part of my gut healing process with my nutritionist. I love it so far! I was reading about it tho and it said it contains a natural sulfa… would this cause a problem if I’m allergic to sulfa drug?

Im another one who cannot eat hemp seeds/hearts! Several years ago when I first tried them they made me vomit every time. Each time the hemp was the only thing that came up. I just tried them again today, after all these years, sick again. There is no way this is any kind of coincidence of food poisoning or something else I ate.

Hi. My mother used to practice Reiki and traditional Chinese Medicine with many natural healthy diets and told me about the seeds and oil. I’m looking to try this with my daily dinners but can’t seem to find a “reputable” seller. Where can I purchase reputable seeds and oil?

I get violently sick after eating hemp seeds. At first i did not know what it was that caused me to throw up (violently) several times (10) the first time after having a kale smoothie (with hemp seeds)… 5 times the second time after eating little date balls made with hemp seeds & another 5 times the third time after having a salad that contained hemp seeds. the ONLY common ingredient in all those situations was hemp seeds. I have made an appointment to get properly tested. however i am positive that it is the hemp seeds that have caused my violent reactions…

Has anyone ever gotten a migraine immediately after injesting hemp protein powder? This morning I added it to my smoothie and within 15 minutes I got a migraine. I also felt weird and my eyes were watering. I don’t usually get severe headache with my migraines because I suffer from migraine with aura which is primarily visual disturbance.

I too had a life threatening allergic reaction to a small sample bag of hemp hearts. I had eaten my every morning bowl of yogurt and granola and sat through two class periods before I sat down in the third class and ate a small (two handfuls) sample bag of HEMP HEARTS. Ten minutes later I became red, itchy and swollen ALL OVER MY ENTIRE BODY. I had to get up, leave class, and literally run to the University of Utah Medical Center on my school campus. A few minutes later when I arrived at the ER, I was going into full anaphylaxis and was in shock. My throat was closing and I could barely hear anything. I was shot with the epi pen and about a half hour later I was perfectly fine.. just exhausted.

I have never had issues with any kind of allergies and NO medical history of any type of food allergies.

SEVERE FOOD ALLERGIES TO THE BRAND HEMP HEARTS DO EXIST. To make a point, I eat other brands of hemp seeds on my salads on a regular basis.

So my very first dose of Hemp was ingested through the form of a Hemp bar. I have never used a product containing THC so I do not know for sure but I do feel very weird now not in a bad way but in a good enjoyable way. At first I gave it no thought but then after finishing the bar I felt a mental satisfaction and a “feel good” sensation.

Yes, I ate 3 Tbsp of hemp seed throughout the day yesterday. This was my first time trying hemp seed. Once evening came, I developed a horrible migraine headache and felt nauseous. It is now almost 24 hours later and I still have a headache and feel nauseous, although the headache has subsided slightly from last night and this morning. I can’t attribute this to anything other than the hemp seeds, as everything else in my diet has remained the same. What a horrible reaction. I am not taking anything for the headache, as I am hoping is will subside more once the hemp gets out of my system (plus I am trying to stay away from over the counter medicines such as Tylenol). I don’t think I’ll be using hemp seeds in the future.

I too had a bad reaction to Hemp Seeds, I became violently ill 90 minutes after eating them. The first time, I thought it was the flu but after trying it again a week later , I had the same reaction. No more hemps seeds for me

Oh thank goodness I’m not the only one. I’m not prone to nausea or vomiting, but I had a small sample of hemp hearts just to try it out given all I’ve been reading about its health benefits. Within 10 minutes I was horribly nauseous, and feeling so ill I had to leave my shopping and rush home. I was sick and ended up going to the bathroom all night. Couldn’t eat anything until the next day.

Do you know how i can go about getting a test for my husband? After eating a teaspoon of hemp seed hearts he immediately threw up a lot his throat swelled shut he had trouble breathing he got hives and a rash on his chest he took allery medicine and nasal spray because it helped his swelling he is deathly afraid of hemp. We felt alone because when we Google this nothing comes up!

My 12 year old daughter has been quite ill with lots of vomiting twice in the last month. Both times the illness went completely away after a few hours. She is otherwise very healthy. After the latest bout of vomiting, my wife and I were grilling her about what she had eaten, and there were no clues since it was all stuff she normally eats or drinks, and also stuff I had eaten. However, I had seen her put some Nativa Hemp seeds in her oatmeal and asked her about that. She then immediately remembered that the last time she ate those hemp seeds was in a smoothie she drank right before her previous sickness.